I wrote about the “hygiene hypothesis” in previous blog posts* and just saw an interesting article written by the president of Coronado Biosciences, Bobby W. Sandage Jr., Ph.D. The article, “Worming Your Way Back to Health,” was published on December 12, 2012 online at Genetich Engineering and Biotechnology News. The hygiene hypothesis suggests a correlation [...]
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The Circumcision Dilemna: Should You Circumcise Your Baby Boy?
January 14th, 2013
Note: Circumcision has a very complex history and is currently an issue of significant debate with strong arguments for and against its practice. What I’ve written below is an extremely simplified overview of the topic. Whether to circumcise your boy is one of the most difficult decisions expectant parents in the U.S. have to make [...]
Blog Posts in 2013 will Compare Approaches to Children’s Health in Different Cultures
January 4th, 2013
Last year was incredibly exciting and eventful, but nearly void of blog entries. 2013 will be different. 2012 was full of traveling throughout Mexico, Southeast Asia, Northern Europe, and Egypt. I also had the great opportunity to edit a memoir mentioned in this New York Times article featuring the author. Much of the rest of [...]
Medical Lesson from Mexico: Use of Intramuscular NSAIDs for Autoimmune Diseases
October 16th, 2010
One important difference I have seen in Mexican medicine is the widespread use of intramuscular medications (IMs). In large numbers doctors prescribe many medications, from antibiotics to non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) in IM form rather than oral (pill) form.
Despite the potential advantage for some individuals (like IM NSAIDs for autoimmune patients), overall it seems that injectable medications are being dangerously overused in Mexico.
Playing Games for Medical Innovation
May 28th, 2010
The Myelin Repair Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Institute for the Future are teaming up to create a project with the goal of generating solutions to accelerate drug discovery and development in all areas of medical research, for all diseases, and all patients.
The project will use gaming and open-source technology to facilitate innovative ideas–similar to the environment in which the computing age was “hatched.”
April 29th, 2010
Smoking, since I was born, has always been considered one of the most detrimental habits. Almost everything you read about “being healthy” includes something about managing your weight and not smoking. It would be outrageous for a doctor to prescribe nicotine, or tell a patient to keep smoking.
Or would it?
More Reasons to Get Dirty (Hygiene Hypothesis)
March 26th, 2010
More and more advice for getting dirty!
A recent study at Northwestern University further supports this idea. In the March 24, 2010 Chicago Tribune article, “NU Study: Dirt’s Good for Kids,” Robert Channik states that this “study draws a conclusion sure to confuse “germophobic” parents everywhere.”
Additional evidence for the hygiene hypothesis that suggests that there is a danger in being “too” clean. Please see my first three blog entries for more detailed information on this idea.
Want to Lose Weight? Another Reason to “Yoga”
February 21st, 2010
My website is only two months old, but please know that within my blog there are a few entries right now in 2010. The first three are discussions about the “hygiene hypothesis,” which is a possible explanation for the rise of allergic and autoimmune diseases in developed countries. I’m really curious about your insight and response to this new hypothesis.
The second two entries discuss the benefits of Yoga with regard to weight loss and inflammation reduction. Again, any comments you have would be great.
Also please feel free to write to me about discoveries you feel have the potential to dramatically impact our health. I can post your comments as a separate blog entry to start a discussion.
Exciting New Study at Ohio State University: Yoga Fights Inflammatory Diseases
February 20th, 2010
When you think of activities that are “good for you,” yoga is usually at the top of the list. I never stopped to wonder if this was true because I have heard it so many times and honestly it just seems to make sense. It seems natural that yoga is healthy for your body because [...]
More on the Hygiene Hypothesis and the Terrifying Treatment
February 16th, 2010
The idea that being too clean can make you sick is fascinating – and scary.
It’s extremely ironic to think that simply growing up in a developing country – with the “highest” medical care, and cleanliness, — can actually cause us to be grow up to be very sick. This radical idea the hygiene hypothesis proposes suggests that our habits of cleanliness, sterilization, vaccination and antibiotics may cure us from the common cold but can leave us fighting severe allergies or a devastating disease for the rest of our life.
Perhaps just as disturbing as the idea that we are getting sick from our efforts to avoid illness, is the treatment. In order to cure our lack of exposure to parasites and other infectious agents, hygiene theorists are testing cures by purposefully injecting people with the larvae of a parasitic worm (or helminth). This treatment, referred to as Helminthic therapy,has proved promising in research studies, the risks of severe side effects in some cases are too to become commonplace just yet.
